Ear muff



Aug. 10, 1937. v w. H. .RosE 2,089,427

' EAR MUFF Filed nec. 9, 195e -4 INVENT R.

Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE I2. Claims.

My invention relates to ear-mulfaand' refers particularly to devices of this character'in-which a hat to which the ear-muli is attached and the ear-muli itself may be held iirmly upon the head of the wearer, thus preventing their accidental removal therefrom.

Another object of my invention is a device of the character described having adaptable means for positioning the ear-muis upon the ears of a wearer, irrespective of the position of the hat upon the head with respect to the ears and irrespective of the width of the sweat-band of the hat.

As the position of a hat upon a head varies with the character and size of the hat and as the widths of sweat-bands of hats also vary, it is evident that an ear-muli which is adap-ted to be removably attached to a hat by means of its sweat-band must have attaching, or supporting, members capable of ready and positive eXtensions in order that they may be properly attached to hats of varying dimensions.

It is further evident that such attaching, or supporting, means should be of such thickness and contour as not to inconvenience the wearer,

especially at that portion between the sweatband and the head of the wearer.

It is further evident that a device of the character described should be of such construction, that the hat and the ear-mufls will not be disengaged, or disarranged, by the wind, thus allowing the wearer the free use of both hands.

In addition to the above mentioned advantages, my device is of small dimensions, readily folded into a small compass, and is inexpensive of production.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating modified forms of the device of my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of my device adapted to a hat.

Figure 2 is a front View of the device shown in Figure l, partly broken away for purposes of description.

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the suspending element in folded form.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the suspending element in open form.

Figure 6 is a broken plan view of a modified form of attaching the suspending element to the ear-muli.

Figure 7 is a broken plan view of a modiiied form of attaching the suspending element to the ear-muri.

Figure 8 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 7.

The form of my device illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 consists of an ear-muli, or ear covering having the exterior ear covering element I0 having the general outside contour of a human ear, the outer peripheral portion of which is turned inwardly to encompass the ear, although this inwardly extendedportion may be eliminated if desired. The ear-muff is preferably made from a soft flexible material such as textiles, soit leather or other suitable material. A tape element II is xedly attached to the ear-muli i8 for the purpose of strengthening `the ear-muil at the points of attachment between the ear-muff and suspending members described later. This strengthening means may be omitted, if thev material forming the ear-muil is of such a character that a proper connection can be made with the suspending members without additional strengthening means.

A suspending member I2 is xedly attached to each upper extremity portion of the ear-muri lil and the tape I I by means of a ilexible member I3. shown in this illustrated form as a looped member stitched to the ear-muff portion, passed through the opening It in the suspending member. The suspending members I2, I2 are of a flexible material capable of being bent over upon itself to produce the members I5 and I6 in spaced parallel planes with respect to each other, and I have found that exible metal is well adapted for this purpose, but do not limit myself to this particular material. Attached to the lower extremity of the ear-muli is a string, cord, tape or other device I 'I capable of being tied to, or readily at tached to, another element of the same character.

The operation of my device is as follows:-

The supporting members are so positioned with respect to the position of a hat I8, the sweat-band I9 of the hat and the position of the ears is such that, when the hat is properly positioned upon the head of the wearer, the ear-muffs will cover the ears of the wearer. The suspending members I2, I2 are then bent at the position that when the sweat-band I8 of the hat is inserted between the two bent members I5 and I 6 of the suspending members, the ear-muffs will be in the desired position over the ears. The strings, or cords II, I1 are then tied, or fastened, together beneath the chin of the wearer.

It will be noted that among the advantages of the device of my invention are its adaptability of proper application to the ears by simply bending the supporting members at the proper point, that the members II, I'I maintain the hat and the earmuifs in proper place, hence, preventing their accidental displacement by the wind, its compactness and capability of being folded into a small compass and its production at small cost.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, the suspending member I5-I6 is directly attached to the tape Il by means of the rivet, or eyelet, 20.

In the modication shown in Figures 7 and 8, each exible metallic supporting member I2 has a plurality of pointed fastening member 2|2l stamped therefrom and extending therefrom, which can be inserted through the ear-muri I0 and bent over, thus aflixing the suspending mem-4 bers to the ear-mun.

It is evident that means other than those shown may be employed for aflixing the supporting members to the ear-muis and that other means may be employed for strengthening the ear-muiT for the connection with the supporting mem-y bers, as for instance the material of the ear-muffe may be impregnated in whole, or in part, with a material that will strengthen the material of the ear-mulfs, which impregnating material should be, but must not be, of a flexible character.

It will further be evident that the two elements adapted for connection beneath the chin can be varied for instance, one ear-muli may carry one such element capable of being attached directly to the other ear-muif by a snap-fastener or otherwise.

It will thus be seen that the device of my invention presents means whereby the ears of the bearer may be protected and thatboth the earmuffs and the hat of the wearer are maintained in fixed position upon the head of the wearer, and that its supporting member elements allow of the ready positioning of the ear-muffs and the hat into the position best adapted for the purposes described and that the device may be properly adjusted to one hat and may be removed therefrom and quickly adjusted to another hat if desired.

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number, arrangement or material of parts as specifically shown and described, as these are given simply as a means for clearly describing my invention. v

What I claim ist- 1. In a device adapted to protect the ears and maintain a hat upon the head of the wearer, in combination, two ear-muis; two upwardly extended supporting members carried by the upper portion of each said ear-muffs, said supporting members being composed of flexible material, a bent portion of which is adapted to be placed between a hat and the sweat-band thereof to support said ear-muifs, and means carried by the ear-muffs adapted to be connected under the chin of the wearer.

2,. In a device adapted to protect, the ears and maintain a hat upon the head of the wearer, in combination, two ear-muis; a strengthening means carried by each said ear mui; said strengthening means being positioned peripherally below two upwardly extended members; two upwardly extended sup-porting members carried by the strengthening member of each said earmuffs, said supporting members being composed of flexible material, a bent portion of which is adapted to be placed between a hat and the sweat-band thereof to support said ear-muifs, and means carried by the ear-muis adapted to be connected under the chin of the wearer.

Y f WILLIAM I-I. ROSE. 

